A Philadelphia Union blog hosted by Christopher A. Vito and Matthew De George

Monday, June 25, 2012

FOX SOCCER REPORT: UNION SIGN CENTERBACK BAKARY SOUMARE

(Associated Press)

The Union appear to have made a pair of transactions in order to fill a void in their lineup.

According to a Fox Soccer report from Ives Galarcep, the Union have completed an allocation-order trade with Vancouver that enables them to sign centerback Bakary Soumare.

Galarcep reported that the Union, which sat 13th in allocation order, traded with the Whitecaps, who were at No. 2, to move up and sign Soumare. Per league rules, a former MLS player returning to the league must go through the allocation order process unless his original club (Chicago, in Soumare’s case) hadn’t spent the money it received for his transfer.

It’s believed the Union sent allocation money to the Whitecaps in order to facilitate the trade.
Galarcep reported that the Union will announce the trade and signing of Soumare today, in conjunction with their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match against Harrisburg City Islanders.

Soumare, a 6-4 central defender, will be eligible to compete Wednesday, when the summer international transfer window opens.
Soumare spent two seasons with the Fire. The 26-year-old was an MLS Defender of the Year finalist in 2008, when Chicago limited its opponents to 33 goals in 30 matches.

A Malian national who also has American citizenship, he has played the last three seasons abroad — with French side US Boulogne in 2010 and 2011, and on loan to German club Karlsruher SC in 2012.